workingfortheman.com

At my last job, I was an appointment agent for a clinic. I dealt with sick, angry people all day. But I was calm and polite. It was my calling.

My boss was nice and maternalistic. She was easy to get along with. I enjoyed working with her. But she wasn't the problem. Her assistant was the problem.

Lucy, the assistant, had probably had the same position for 20 years. How you can continue to be an overpaid appointment agent-turned assistant manager for 20 years is beyond me. Anyway...

Victoria, my boss, was out for the next few days. So, it seemed as if it would be easy-sailing for a little while. People were goofing off, paying personal bills, and just, well, not answering the phones.

I was emailing my dear sweet mother, who also worked for the same company, in Administration. Up until that point in the day, I was the only one answering the phone. I took a little break, only for five minutes. Besides, my mom was one of the bosses-of-everybody. If she doesn't mind me emailing her, no one should mind.

My office had a door, but I kept it closed because I'm a loaner and keep to myself.

Without KNOCKING, Lucy bursts into my office. I continue typing.

She gasps.

I stop typing for a millisecond and looked at her. Her mouth was open.

"What?" I said, and continued typing.

"What ARE you doing?!"

"Oh. Emailing my mom."

Another gasp. I keep typing.

"You're NOT supposed to do that!"

I keep typing, wanting to finish the letter.

"Okay."

She stands there in my doorway for a moment. I stop typing.

"I said, 'Okay'."

She gasps again and slams my door.

Rebecca is currently working for an internet company, updating accounts. She's going to school for internet publishing, so, when she gets her degree, she won't have to deal with anybody's crappy bad moods but her own. She also spends a lot of time writing fiction stories -although the job stories are real - and surfing the web at her new job, all while on the clock.

Back to the archives.

Return to the main page.